SparkFun Electronics Commentsurn:uuid:214d0e4e-f1b1-d287-ce26-ac5b4c9f82492015-08-02T16:27:21-06:00SparkFun ElectronicsEternityForest on COM-10863 - Fiber Optic Cable - 3.25mm (5m)EternityForesturn:uuid:4a7fefa1-213f-6cfa-89ad-f5184cd554a42011-12-01T17:33:27-07:00<p>Im pretty sure light going in the sides wont go along the fibre and out the end, If it was that easy we wouldnt need those special light concentrating fibres that some university is doing for cheap soar power supposedly</p>Techmonkey on COM-10863 - Fiber Optic Cable - 3.25mm (5m)Techmonkeyurn:uuid:85871466-16ab-98b7-45a0-e149c70fd34a2011-10-14T10:08:05-06:00<p>If you make a bend in the cable too tight, it may allow loss. There is usually a spec on fiber optics showing a minimum bend radius.</p>Kevin Vermeer on COM-10863 - Fiber Optic Cable - 3.25mm (5m)Kevin Vermeerurn:uuid:05dde666-55c0-13ec-dcb0-0137f476724f2011-10-11T06:39:11-06:00<p>Ah, I see from the <a href="http://www.sparkfun.com/news/721" rel="nofollow" >new product post</a> that the intended driver/receiver is a 3mm LED attached with heat shrink. Neat hack! I still maintain, though, that the i-fiberoptics parts with their screw-on clamping housings are better.</p>dattaway2 on COM-10863 - Fiber Optic Cable - 3.25mm (5m)dattaway2urn:uuid:36affa35-288b-154e-50e8-ce55aa64f1042011-10-10T20:46:47-06:00<p>Each fiber holds its light due to internal refraction. Otherwise, it would be too lossy.</p>Brodie on COM-10863 - Fiber Optic Cable - 3.25mm (5m)Brodieurn:uuid:9c20f8e3-bdc0-54da-46ca-274d153fb33d2011-10-09T20:38:52-06:00<p>you could do that and it would be very cool,<br/>
you were right in saying that the light wont &ldquo;leak&rdquo; out the sides, its called complete internal reflection (don&rsquo;t quote me on that, it&rsquo;s been 10 years since high school physics)<br/>
The only thing you would have to make sure is that the fibres are still completely enclosed, as they will pick up light from the side and pass it on to the ends, effectively jamming your signals</p>Kevin Vermeer on COM-10863 - Fiber Optic Cable - 3.25mm (5m)Kevin Vermeerurn:uuid:17c23d5b-cded-63d6-ff39-158450fff3d32011-10-08T21:30:54-06:00<p>3.25mm is a strange cable size to carry; 1000um (1mm) is much more common.<br/>
You&rsquo;ll want to have some transmitters and detectors for this cable, and I&rsquo;ve had good success with <a href="http://i-fiberoptics.com/Fiber_optic_led_Application_features.php" rel="nofollow" >i-fiberoptics</a> parts before. Digikey carries them, although I&rsquo;d love to see a Sparkfun kit that used them.<br/>
Do you have transmitters and receivers for this cable?</p>bdodds on COM-10863 - Fiber Optic Cable - 3.25mm (5m)bdoddsurn:uuid:6b59a2ed-15a2-6e71-685a-92384b0b1fbf2011-10-08T13:14:17-06:00<p>It doesn&rsquo;t look like glass fiber, but if it is, then people who buy this should be WARNED that woking with glass fiber can be very dangerous to your eye sight. If when cutting glass fibers, small pieces of the fiber get into your eyes, they can penetrate with almost no effort and cause irreparable damage to your vision.<br/>
EDIT: I see now it&rsquo;s listed as resin fiber in the description.</p>emihackr97 on COM-10863 - Fiber Optic Cable - 3.25mm (5m)emihackr97urn:uuid:782897ad-b82a-2550-87e2-ab3269d3c6852011-10-07T18:22:39-06:00<p>Does the light leak from one fiber to another? i mean, can I use it as 64 separate fibers, with 1 tansmitter/receiver each? or can it only be used as a single fiber?<br/>
It might seem like a dumb question, but thats what makes my decision.<br/>
thanks,<br/>
emihackr97</p>EliTheIceMan on COM-10863 - Fiber Optic Cable - 3.25mm (5m)EliTheIceManurn:uuid:fc80dd9a-394f-086d-af9a-47cefc4741f72011-10-07T14:24:53-06:00<p>I know light doesn&rsquo;t leak out the sides of the fibers but is it possible to put light in from the sides and have it come out the ends? I would assume not but curious. I&rsquo;m thinking if you wove fibers around clothing they could receive signals from say an IR laser and a single receiver could be at the end.</p>Azayles on COM-10863 - Fiber Optic Cable - 3.25mm (5m)Azaylesurn:uuid:aada1358-8496-8ebc-3e40-ef9e91d4f75c2011-10-07T12:53:17-06:00<p>If you crush the ends of the fibres with pliers, the light diffracts out in a very pleasing manner. Handy if you wanna make one of them fibre optic decoration things.</p>